There's the hero and the side kick—then there's the familiar. Unlike the side kick, the familiar is a small, but still important figure in a story. A familiar assists protagonists throughout the plot. Often, a familiar is akin to a mascot, which drives a message home to the reader. Done right, a familiar leaves a …
Continue reading The Familiar: A Look Into Fictional and Ancestral Tropes
The muse is a curious entity that pops out when least expected. It is the source of an artist's creative power. Like an infinite well of possibilities. But to receive from the muse, one must nourish it in return. Sadly, many writers, artists, musicians, and others overlook this. I don't proclaim to be a health …
Many of us aspiring fiction writers hope to be the next Stephen King or J. R. R. Tolkien. While achieving this comes with great prestige and power, there's also a cost. Attending the RealmMakers conference helped this sink in. The panelists at the conference spoke about the issues of being a published author. It isn't …
It's hard to believe that we're at the end of July. As we turn towards August, I've some news to share. My New Job The writing craft isn't great for making money—unless you're the next Stephen King or Brandon Sanderson. But after six years in retail, I've finally achieved full-time! This comes with excellent benefits, …
Within each genre, e.g. fantasy, there are sub-genres called niches. Today's topic is Elven Fantasy! It's one of my favorite fantasy niches, as it is for a fellow blogger who follows this blog. Elven Mythology Growing up, I was enthralled with the lore from books like LoTR and games like the Elder Scrolls. Elves, in …
After listening to a detailed webinar on blurbing, it's had me reexamine my own blurb. Book blurbs may seem like a nuisance for some writers, but they're essential to marketing a book. There's a structure to it. It hits the SEO hard and attracts readers. Below are my notes from the webinar. Credit goes to …
I recently listened to a podcast with authors from Realm Makers. They're a close-knit group of professionals, mainly Christians, who have a great community to help writers. Anyway, in the podcast, loglines were mentioned. I had briefly researched the topic, but never in-depth. My logline was underdeveloped, especially with new revisions on the way. But …
Blog Changes For any of you longtime readers, the blog is experiencing an overhaul at the moment. You can expect changes in formatting and style. I've opted for a simpler, smoother website with less fluff and easier reading for your eyes—particularly on mobile. I'm weighing the upgrade to a business plan on WordPress, which would …
When you think of a father figure, what comes to mind? Someone tough and brave? Unbeatable? Or perhaps less pleasant thoughts. The father figure can be a very subjective experience. It's also a useful trope in storytelling. Mothers influence tradition too, in different but substantial ways than fathers. But that's a post for another time..... …
Big news, my dear readers! I've signed my first editorial contract. That means I've sent my manuscript off to an editor for feedback. I've opted for a critique of the plot, characters, pacing, and other details. Once I receive the feedback, I'll perform the revisions. Next will be round two: the copyedits and proofing. The …
Ethereal Seals 
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